What a special time! In Cherry blossom season, these beautiful pink flowers transform Tokyo, Kyoto and other areas in Japan into a veritable wonderland. So if you’re planning a visit to Japan shortly, or would love to be there when cherry blossoms are in profusion, let Baroque Travel arrange everything for you
Famous around the world for their spectacular beauty, Japan’s cherry blossoms come out to play for such a short time – just two weeks – in different parts of the country at different periods of time. As the cherry blossoms are at their very best (and fullest) in the second week of blooming, this is the time you need to schedule to visit whichever part of Japan you’re planning to spend time in.
Where and when to visit
Depending on when the blossoms are in season and when you want to travel, here’s a list of some of the most popular places to visit in Japan in cherry blossom season. The dates shown are approximate as weather can be unpredictable.
Tokyo
26 March to 11 April 2017
It’s always a great time to visit this fabulous city, but it’s great fun to visit during Cherry blossom season. Of course, aside from seeing the pretty pink floral display, there’s plenty to do here, including stunning shopping and dining, superb sightseeing and great entertainment.
Wheres to hunt ‘hanami’ in Tokyo: Aoyama Cemetery, Imperial Palace, Meiji-jingu Shrine, Meguro River, Shinjuku Gyoen Garden, Ueno Park and Yogogi Park.
Kyoto
29 March to 12 April 2017
Famous for its exquisite cultural and historic wonders, the country’s ancient capital is one of the best locations to see ‘hanami’ in full bloom. In fact, it’s one of the most popular places to visit during Cherry blossom season for both locals and international tourists.
Where to hunt ‘hanami’ in Kyoto: Imperial Palace Park (known as Kyoto Gosho), Kamo-gawa River, which is lined with cherry trees, Kiyomizu-dera Temple – visit at night to see an unbelievable lit up spectacle, Kyoto Botanical Gardens, Maruyama-koen Park and Shirakawa, the most popular street in Gion, which is also lined with cherry trees.
Hiroshima
29 March to 12 April 2017
More famous for the tragic atomic bomb that destroyed most of the city, Hiroshima is a great place to visit to commemorate those lost and see the magnificent cherry blossom trees at the same time.
Where to hunt ‘hanami’ in Hiroshima: Hiroshima Castle, Peace Park and Shukkeien Garden.
Osaka
29 March to 12 April 2017
This beautiful city is called ‘The kitchen of Japan’ because it is a gourmet paradise. It’s also full of exquisite cherry trees.
Where to hunt ‘hanami’ in Osaka: Best spot is Osaka Castle, otherwise Kema Sakuranomiya Park, home to almost 5,000 cherry trees that line the Okawa River. This is a great place to enjoy a picnic. Another great place to visit is Tsurumi Ryokuchi Park, home to hundreds of cherry trees.
